Showa Denko recorded a 0.9% increase in net profits for the fiscal first half, ended June 30, 2012, compared with the year-ago period, to ¥7.88 billion ($101 million). First-half sales decreased 15.4%, however, to ¥352.3 billion. Quarterly figures were not disclosed. During the first half of 2012, the Japanese economy showed signs of gradual recovery in production and capital investment, Showa Denko says. Uncertain conditions persisted, however, due to the slowdown in overseas economies as a result of the sovereign-debt crisis in Europe. In the...